A Detroit Red Wings hockey fan shows his support at a Lions game in late December. / Leon Halip, Getty Images

by Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports

Fans have felt the brunt of NHL labor feuding with a canceled season in 2004-05 and 113 days of a lockout this season.

Fans came back in droves in 2005-06, but there is worry about a backlash after a tentative agreement has been reached.

"After the last lockout, the NHL had painted on both blue lines, 'Thank you fans,"" Philadelphia Flyers fan Lisa D'Angelo said by email. "What are they going to paint this time: 'Thank you fans again.'"

Some groups have taken to social media to organize protests to make sure the fan voice is heard once the season starts up again.

Just Drop It, a Faceoff group with more than 20,000 followers, has vowed to avoid the NHL for the same number of games that had been canceled after Dec. 21. That's 312, or an average of 10 per team.

"They took 10 from us, we'll take 10 from them," according to a message on the site. "No tickets, no TV, no merchandise."

New York Rangers fan James Wilson, who's glad "this embarrassment" is over, had a different idea on opening night .

"I think the fans should boycott the first period of the first game, he wrote by email. "Let them play in complete silence, see how they like it. When we return for the second period, they can thank us personally."

USA TODAY Sports, as it had done at various times throughout the lockout, asked fans to send us their opinions now that a tentative agreement has been reached. Here's a sampling of what they said:

Ken Pernoski, Chicago Blackhawks

"I am a lifelong NHL fan, but I'm bitter and soured by the lockout. I think the season has already been compromised, and starting this late smacks of a bipartisan money grab. If not for those whose livelihood depends upon the games being played, I wish the season would have been canceled. I was pro-owner throughout, although I believe both sides were guilty of negotiating in bad faith. It is all about money, not the game. I found the players' side to a large degree greedy, arrogant and childish, and I will never be a fan of those players who made derogatory comments and tweets during the lockout, even if they are on my team."

Chris Barron, Pittsburgh Penguins fan

"I want to be mad as hell that so much of the season has been lost because of the insanity of both sides. I want to give them a taste of their own medicine and not care about hockey this season. But I can't be mad, I won't punish myself by not caring about hockey this season. Indeed this morning, all I can be is happy that we get the NHL back.

"Maybe I am part of the problem â?? that fan that both sides knew would come back no matter what â?? but I am a fan whose sport is back."

Rob Edwards, New York Rangers fan

"As a hockey fan for over 30 years, I can tell you this lockout has driven me away from the NHL for good.

"Why would I support a league that cares so little about its fans? Why would I bother rooting for a team to rebuild or create a dynasty when the league will just change the rules when the CBA is done?

"Why root for players and purchase their team jerseys when there are two buyouts per team coming in the next two seasons? Who would want to buy a sweater of a guy who might be gone next year, despite having a contract?

The damage (Commissioner Gary) Bettman and his greedy owners have wrought upon the NHL will linger for years. Why would I or any other fan trust an NHL owner when he signs a player? After all, the owners never want to honor their contracts. Millions spent on contracts heading into the lockout and now they want to roll back those same deals. Very honorable. Meanwhile, teams sat on season ticketholders' monies and lived off the interest, despite having no intention to play before January.

"Nope, I'm done. I'll never spend another dime on the NHL. When the season opens, I'll be on vacation with the money I chose not to spend on the NHL. I cannot wait."

Michael Friedman, Nashville Predators fan

"Not that the NHL has given much thought to its fans in the past, but they can start the healing by offering the Center Ice package for free this season."

Brian Butry, Buffalo Sabres fan

"I have pledged to not purchase any merchandise or attend a game this season. But at least I now have something to watch on television the next few months. I can return to complaining about Buffalo's mediocre team and Lindy Ruff's mind-boggling coaching decisions rather than complaining about contract variance and union disclaimers. I'm looking forward to hockey beat writers offering me analysis from arenas rather than hotel lobbies."

Joe Sasso, Detroit Red Wings fan

"I was planning on going to the Winter Classic thus year. I love hockey and watch the juniors, CHL, and any other league I can find. I am indifferent to the NHL. Will I watch it? Yes. Will I pay for a ticket to watch it? Hell no. I feel both the league and the players are out of touch with their fans. These are tough economic times and we had billionaires fighting millionaires over a game. Still a fan, but they are not getting a single red cent from me."

John Marone, Tampa Bay Lightning fan

"I will be back for the NHL, but with a sour taste in my mouth as in the 2005 season. I missed the Lightning having a chance to defend the Cup, and now only seven years later, the drawn-out battle hurts the fans and those franchises still building an identity and fan base."

Kathie Ebaugh, Penguins, Lightning and Sabres fan

"As a lifelong hockey fan, this lock out has been brutal. I have tuned in and tuned out, depending my level of hope or frustration -all the while wondering what the hell is hockey doing to us, their fans, and why do they think this is good for the game. As many have said, this did not have to happen and should not have happened. We lost the Thanksgiving game, HBO 24-7, New Year's game, and All-Star Game. But it wasn't just a few lost events, it was the destruction of momentum that hockey had done to bring new fans to our game. As a transplanted northern who now lives in an non-traditional hockey market in Florida, it was great to be able to bring new fans to the game. So many of them long lost interest in the game. Even in my own hockey loving family there are lots bad feelings as my dad, who was a college and minor league hockey referee, is beyond frustrated and my husband has said we will not spend our money on the NHL this year.

"Yes, there are players and owners who get it. Stories about players like Vinny Lecavalier who recognize the impact this has had on fans and seem truly sorry for it. However, it isn't enough. People are empathetic at best, angry at worst. They don't get why people who make ungodly amounts of money are fighting with people have ungodly amounts of money. They are tired of listening to everyone saying it's the other side's fault. People are over poorly behaved adults who can sit down in a room and find a way to agree. After all, they all make a lot of money and they make the money from people who choose to spend their hard earned money watching men play a child's game.

"Speaking of this being a child's game, it is through the kids that hockey will get the fans back. We have a 5-year-old hockey-loving son who does not like any other sport and is ready for some hockey. The first game we watched this year was yesterday's USA-Sweden juniors final game. Our son excitedly watched the game as he pulled out his street hockey gear and turned our family room into his hockey arena. As he has done in the past, he once again asked us if he could learn to play on ice. It is through him the adults in our family will renew of love for hockey. As normal, the innocence of a child will help us adults remember what is important. We will take him to a game because we know it will make him happy and we will do anything that makes him happy. When we take him, we will go with other friends with their kids. It will be a great time for all and the adults will learn to put this lockout behind us. We will go because we love our family and our kids love hockey.

"If the NHL management and players are smart, they will reach out to us through our kids. Do everything they can to make the game experience better for kids. Focus events on the kids. Give us opportunities to help our kids see their favorite players, sit in awe of the hockey arena and have a great evening with their parents. Most importantly do it as price a family can afford â?? recognize that they need to get us back in the arena and do whatever it takes to get us there. This is the time to be creative in marketing with family-focused events. If they reach out to us fans through our kids, our hard hearts will soften and we will be seen at back at the games."

Lisa D'Angelo, Philadelphia Flyers fan

"I have been a hockey/ Flyers fan for more than 40 years. This lockout was a disgrace, this could have been avoided and I am downright disgusted by the posturing by both sides. This was the first time that I did not buy any NHL gear for Christmas. In fact, I have no desire to go to any of the games this year, again another first, as my way of protesting what the NHL and the NHLPA have done to the fan base - both sides just take for granted that we will all come back in droves- my feeling is not this time.

"To be honest with you, I have learned to live without the sport that I love. Hockey has always been my No. 1 love, but right now, I am just ticked off. ... If a die-hard fan, like myself feels this way, what are the fringe fans feeling? Do you think the NHL will get them back, I don't."

Larry Byersmith, Lightning fan

"Attempting to play 48 games in 2 1/2 months is a joke. The season ticketholder should realize that the first four to five games are like preseason games. Third and fourth lines are being formed; some players may be playing to get into shape; how can any player establish his focus and intensity by playing four to five nights a week! And it's the season ticketholders (in my case, approximately $100 a ticket), who are "suckers" to the league and its owners by spending huge sums of money for a diluted product. Each and every owner in the league should allow season ticketholders free admission for these games and reimburse, with at least 5% interest, for all games lost.

"Over Thanksgiving, my niece asked me: 'Uncle Larry, when are you going to take me to a hockey game this year?' At Christmas, she asked: "Since there appears to be no hockey this year, can we make plans to attend a few more Rays (baseball) games this year?' "

Andre Djurberg, Red Wings fan from Ã?stersund, Sweden

"I have read all over social media last few months how so called fans don't care if the season will start, that there is no reason for a shortened season. I follow many sites on Facebook like "angry NHL fans", and in every post about the lockout 50 % of the comments are like "who cares?", "just cancel the damn season!". And that they will not watch games when/if the season starts. The fans are so angry just because the season did not start and they didn't get to watch games like they wanted, and now they will protest that by not watching games.Genius! I was sure all along that the season would start some day. I am so happy about it. I'm not angry, now we have a full half a year with games about every day to follow, and I'm sure the so-called fans that are gonna boycott the season now will last for about three games then they will be as caught up in it like in a real season."

Michelle Brown, Flyers fan

"I couldn't be happier. It took this lockout for me to realize just how much I love this sport and how much I missed it, I've been watching replays of series of the past on the NHL Network just to fill the void. Welcome back boys! Can't wait to see you on the ice."

A.K. Bennett, Red Wings fan

"I'm relieved that this great game did not lose another full season, but still frustrated as to why this 16-hour marathon session didn't occur three to four months ago. Every fan has been suggesting to lock (Gary) Bettman, (Donald) Fehr and company in a room since Day One. Kudos to the players for unifying but I'm still dismayed at the amount of posturing and stalling in this process, especially at the expense of all the people whose livelihoods depend partially or wholly on the NHL: from the beer vendors to NHL bloggers and press to bar and restaurant owners around the arenas. I'm overjoyed that those people can breathe easier and can't wait to see the Big Red Machine back in action."

Susan Ostermann, Dallas Stars fan living in Houston

"I am irritated by the owners and GMs that "couldn't help themselves" for this lockout. All that ridiculous spending right before the lockout occurred showed that. I have been a fan for over 30 years, beginning with my first game of the North Stars back in college. I will get Center Ice, but I won't purchase any other related NHL merchandise this season. I'm glad the players got a much better pension plan out of this, though.

"Now to struggle to stay up for west coast swings with my Dallas Stars!"